Chinese flags hoisted in the Czech Republic ahead of a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping have been defaced. (Photo courtesy: BBC)

(TibetanReview.net, Mar28’16) – Expressing disgust with the Czech government’s embrace of the dictatorial government of China known for its brutal human rights record, unknown protesters have blackened Chinese national flags put up ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the country. Dozens of the flags hung in the capital Prague were “spattered with a black substance overnight,” bbc.com Mar 26 quoted a police spokesman as saying.

The Chinese leader was reported to be due to arrive on Mar 28 for a two-day visit before going to the US for talks on nuclear issues.

Czech groups supporting the Tibetan struggle against Chinese rule in their homeland had already announced plans to hold demonstrations during Xi’s visit.

The report said the demonstrators had also planned to hang a giant portrait of Tibet’s exile spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, near the airport alongside one of former Czech President Vaclav Havel, a former dissident and human rights activist.

More than 740 municipalities, besides other institutions as well as individuals in the Czech Republic flew the Tibetan national flag on the 57th Tibetan national uprising day of Mar 10, 2016, with many of them. Many of them said they will keep the flags flying during the Chinese president’s visit.